Julieta Tello

Access to cheap labour, materials and ready-made factories ensures India is one of the world’s mass-produced, ready-to-wear powerhouses, producing millions of pieces per day. However, it also boasts a rich crafts and textiles heritage. Artisanal fabric traditions can be traced back centuries and each region has its own unique style. The slow fashion hand made by the skilled craftsmen and ladies still thrives – you just need time to discover it. Small-scale independent craftspeople promote the traditional way of creating beautiful pieces using specialised skills passed down from generations.

Artistic Map of India Shows the Embroidery Techniques of Its Different Regions

Add some spark to your home with the Banjara textiles from India

The Banjara community (meaning “the wanderers of the jungle” in Sanskrit) lived originally between Afghanistan and the Indian state of Rajasthan. Nowadays they have spread all across India.

The women specialise in Lepo embroidery, which involves stitching little pieces of mirror and decorative beads onto clothes. As the result the fabrics turn into the “sea of tiny mirrors” which are very responsive to bright sunlight.

Where have you discovered your favourite textile finds? Please share your experiences, ideas and suggestions in the comments box below.

The world is full of beautiful colours, textures and patterns; each hemisphere, continent, archipelago and country boasts an array of cultural riches which are just waiting to be discovered.

Hunting for exotic textiles in far-flung, hidden corners of the world is one of my favourite – and most rewarding – experiences; so many of my discoveries have incredible histories just waiting to be told. I feel it’s Design Junkie’s duty to amplify these stories to eager audiences.

But before I tell you a little more about how and where to find some of these treasures, let me tell you a little more about my philosophy. Design Junkie embraces unique cultures, preserving traditional methods passed on from generation to generation and creating a sustainable production environment to ensure time-honoured rituals continue to thrive in modern times. This is central to everything we do; without local support, these amazing textiles which enliven our homes would become a relic of a previous era.

So let’s explore! Let’s go to Latin America, a place which is close to my heart – I was born and brought up in Patagonia, Argentina. But before we head to the deep south, there’s treasures to discover in Central America…

1- PANAMA
Cover the nursery pillows with cheerful Molas from Panama

The ornamental Molas designs originate from body paintings of Kuna women, indigenous people who live on small coral islands in the San Blas Archipelago along the Atlantic coast of Panama.

After the Spanish colonisation, the Kuna women began to transfer their traditional geometric designs on fabric, first by painting and later by using the technique of reverse appliqué. Originally, only the geometrical designs were used but realistic and abstract images of flowers, birds and animals were also added to the selection of images.

The fabric (Mola originally meant bird plummage) can work as an eye-catching cushion cover, offering something different to nursery interiors.

Best place to buy a Mola? If you are visiting Panama City there are two very good places in Balboa. One is the old YMCA building on Calle Balboa. It looks more like a warehouse, and inside you’ll find lots of booths selling molas, taguas, cocobola carvings. The other place is also on Calle Balboa, but it’s a little closer toward Panama. It’s a barn-like structure called Centro Nacional de Artesanías. Inside are a number of stalls where a number of Kuna Indians have good molas.

2- PERU

Cover your floors and sofas with Frazadas from Peru

If you are heading to Peru, look out for their unique blankets. “Frazada” means blanket in Spanish, originally made for the freezing weather in the snow-capped Andes mountains. Every blanket is woven from hand-spun alpaca and sheep wool using a traditional back-strap loom in isolated rural communities. Two pieces of cloth are made to the width of the loom and then sewn together. It takes around six weeks to finish one. They are thick and each is one-of-a-kind in colour and design.

Normally the wool is dyed using natural colours such as plants, fruits, roots and insects. It’s a great way to add bright colours to your interiors! They can be used as rugs, throws, table cloth, bed coverings or wall hangings. The possibilities are endless!

If you are going to Cusco please visit the following markets: Pisac, Chinchero and Baratillo … the last one only if you really want to make the effort and get up at 5am.

3- BOLIVIA

Use the Aguayo from Bolivia as a sofa throw

Bolivia is famous for its Aguayo – a traditional woven blanket used to carry babies and small children, as well as all kinds of items, wrapped on their backs. The native aguayo is a big square, handmade from wool of llama, alpaca or sheep and would be knotted at the front. These blankets typically feature colourful stripes intercalated with rhombuses and other figures with symbolic values. The aguayo is mostly associated with Aymara and Quechua culture. Today you can find multi-coloured aguayos made with synthetic materials and their production is semi-industrial, making them amazingly affordable.

Arrange your Aguayo on the table, as a picnic blanket or use it as a throw on the sofa.

La Paz, Bolivia’s capital, is a beautiful destination and home to markets which are great for picking up bargains: Witches’ Market, Mercado 16 de Julio, Ayni and Comart Tukuypaj.

4- GUATEMALA
Add some patterns to your home with the Huipil Textile from Guatemala

Huipil is the most common traditional garment worn by indigenous women from Central America. It is a hand-embroidered fabric originally used for making blouses (a loose-fitting tunic) made from two or three rectangular pieces of fabric which are then joined together with stitching, ribbons or fabric strips, with an opening for the head and, if the sides are sewn, openings for the arms.

Originally, the huipil fabric was woven on a back-strap loom, using a hand-picked brocade technique, and could take up to a couple of months to weave.

Embrace the spirit of Guatemala by upcycling vintage textiles for amazing projects like bags, folk wallet, bohemian table runner, cushions, or reupholstering an old chair.

Where to go:

Chichicastenango’s markets are reputed to be the largest in Central America. They isn’t far from Antigua or Guatemala City, but it still takes a couple of hours to get there along windy and patchy mountain roads.

Santiago Atitlan Market

Solola Market.

Markets in Antigua: Eplore the maze like stalls of El Mercado and don’t miss Nim P’ot.

5- MEXICO
Tell stories through Mexican Otomi fabrics

Otomi embroidery depicts colourful scenes from everyday life. Arranged in symmetrical form, every cloth tells its own story. This particular embroidery design came about after a drought in the 1960s devastated the agricultural economy of the Otomi communities in central Mexico. The women needed to find an additional source of income with a design that used threads resourcefully. A bold and distinctive embroidery style arose out of economic necessity due to the women’s innate sense of design and understanding of cloth and skills practised by Mexican women for centuries.

The most common elements include flora and fauna in vibrant colours including birds, chickens, dogs, deers, flowers and trees. Pieces are also often called Tenangos and they use 100% natural cotton as a base. These unique pieces celebrate ancestral techniques. This time-honoured textiles require a long process. A piece of 2 x 2 meter will take 6-9 months to finish.

Otomi textiles are generally used as a bed covers, table runners, placemats, poufs and cushions.

Insurgentes Market: This upscale market, based in Ciudad de México, on the Reforma side of the Zona Rosa is the best place for jewellery and the beautiful embroidered cloth by the Otomi Indians.

6- ARGENTINA

Cover your floors with Ponchos de Gauchos from Argentina

If you prefer to keep the decor minimal and monochrome, as opposed to he colourful, have a look at Ponchos from Argentina.

Long before the Spanish conquest, the indigenous people of Argentina made refined textiles to dress. Made of wool from domesticated llamas, they used them to protect themselves from the cold and require months of work to finish.

The colours come from the vegetal or mineral tinctures of the region. The main colours range from a dark red with black stripes to brown, ochre and beige.

They are part of a rich Argentinian tradition of ancient skills. Every poncho is handmade using wool cradled and spun by hand.

Where have you discovered your favourite textile finds? Please share your experiences, ideas and suggestions in the comments box below.

As summer settles in, you don’t want to waste an extra moment indoors – give me relaxing on your veranda or patio in the sunshine, spending time with friends and family during those warm summer nights every time.

To make your outdoor space more inviting, here are some ideas on how to “boho-up” your outdoor space.

Sometimes the best thing to do is to hang out (quite literally) and unwind. What better place to do so than in a hammock? The soft fabric envelopes your body, making it the most comfortable hanging out spot after a busy day or lazing on a Sunday afternoon.

My favourite is the colorful woven hammock made by empowering the talent of local native artisans of Yucatan, Mexico for Warimba. This is where the hammock originates from – it has been a fundamental element of comfort and sleep for many centuries. The first hammocks were woven from the bark of a tree called “hamack”, sparking an innovation in rest and relaxation. Mayan hammocks are a beautiful artisanal expression and they are also the most comfortable place to relax, meditate, read a book and enjoy nature. Take a look at warimbapeople.com, I am sure you will love them.

Why not get creative and make your own furniture out of wooden pallets? Take a look at these incredible and innovative wooden pallet table and sofa designs. The timber pallets are very easy to find and may be used for any cause whether to make an ornament or to make furnishings from it.

Don´t forget to complement the strength of wood with the softness of textile and numerous cushions to add the texture. Colourful cheerfulness can be added with vibrant furniture, materials and real flowers!

If you’re just a beginner at throwing together amazing boho interiors, you might be in awe looking at beautiful, colourful and stunning images of Bohemian Chic homes, daydreaming about decorating your place in a similar style. But where to start? Here are my 10 tips on “pimping up” your home.

The most important thing to keep in mind is that Bohemian Chic is not a “rulebook” style, rather an organic development based on your own preferences, discoveries, memories and experiences.

Show off your travel adventures

Where do you usually place treasures collected on scavenger hunts around the world? A great idea is to use your memories to personalise your home and remind yourself of amazing times. This is also a great conversation starter. I would advise to go for something authentic – it could be ethnic pottery, paintings, hand-woven baskets, masks or a colourful fan on the wall or corner of your home. Sometimes an eye-catching decorative element can even be a piece of vintage tribal textile hanging on a chair.

Plants are wonderful helpers for “livening up” living rooms, bedrooms and even your bathroom. Choose between the impression of a neatly arranged park or a small wild indoor jungle. The lushness of plants brings nature closer – even if based in a busy city flat. You can create an oasis of tranquillity with just a few plants placed lovingly in a room.

One of the trendiest plants of the moment is the jolly cactus. Its cartoon-like shape and angry prickles are popping up in interiors around the planet. As opposed to the leafy relatives, cacti and succulents do not need much watering.

Mix up textures by adding colourful cushions and ethnic textiles. The cushions can be pillow-sized decorative ones or large floor poufs, bringing the seating area to the lower level. Ethnic fabrics work really well as pillow covers and blankets. Embrace your nomadic spirit with ethnic prints, intricate embroideries and textural details.

Colourful rugs add texture to floors and help personalise almost every room, from bedroom to bathroom. Rugs, blankets and covers soften the overall image of the room and make it cosier, while adding interesting patterns to the overall image. I personally prefer colourful Moroccan Rugs, Turkish Kilims or Peruvian Frazadas.

The variety of lamps, lampshades and lanterns is wide, ranging from hand-woven wicker lamp shades, rattan light covers, paper lanterns, bamboo mood lamps to the ones with an intricate metalwork or with addition of coloured glass. Soft lighting adds a lot of atmosphere to a room, especially in the evening.

Decorate your walls to achieve a colourful, happy feeling. A brightly painted wall or two adds so much personality to a room. Or, if you prefer, keep it minimal and white to balance out colourful rugs and cushions. Get crafty with beautiful macramé designs and cover your wall with tassels and ornaments.

Old furniture has had time to develop personality. Interestingly shaped white or blonde wooden furnishing adds a lot of light to a room and balances colourful cushions. Add some extravagance with a gorgeous peacock chair or a hanging Rattan Egg chair.

If you are an arty type, express it in your home decor. Display your own craftsmanship and paintings on walls and shelves – no need to be shy about it. Try different crafts like macramé, crochet or sewing. A great way for your creative output is upcycling vintage furniture after scavenging flea markets.

For those who are looking for bespoke perfection, De Gournay specialises in creating exquisite craftsmanship. Their wallpapers are works of art.

Each artist leaves a part of his soul in their creations.

Since 1986 De Gournay has revived ancient traditions, continuing techniques that began in the 18th century by employing a team of highly skilled artists to paint traditional Chinoiserie, Japanese and Korean and 19th century French Papiers Peints Panoramiques wallpapers.

Ultimate serenity:

these stunning wallpaper designs have the power to make

your home a stress-free zone.

These peaceful murals will create a happy and harmonious family home.

De Gournay is one of the most well-loved wallpaper ateliers in the world,

with showrooms in 39 countries,

including New York, London, Paris, Shanghai, Melbourne and Moscow.

If you are thinking… they seem expensive… the answer is YES, they are very expensive but the high-quality designs are custom tailored to your room.

Their artists will work to ensure your specific brief.

These artisans are actual artists.

Below are some of my favourite de Gournay wallpaper patterns.

Hide yourself from the outside world with this vibrant tropical mural.

Surround yourself in a serene jungle without having to leave the comfort

of your own home with this dreamy mural.

Healing power of green:

Green is the colour of balance and having it in the home has been proven

to create a calming setting

which lets you concentrate more easily on whatever you’re doing.

What do you think about this iconic wallpaper?

The perfect spot for reading.

Blush pink will add a sense of warmth and comfort to any room.

Go for grey and yellow:

The use of neutral and grey tones creates a calm mood, but vibrant pops of yellow liven it up, adding a more modern feel.

Please let me know which ones are your favourites in a comment below.

Although Design Junkie’s roots celebrate traditional weaving techniques from cultures around the world, spotting new discoveries in the fast-moving design industry is also one of my favourite pastimes – what colours, motifs and patterns are on trend for the next year? It enables me to explore new directions as well as test new ideas on my audience.

Even though “no-one can predict the future”, creative experts have been researching and analysing the world of design, art and pattern for years. Spotting and forecasting consumer trends helps all of us, as consumers or businesses, to forecast the next big thing.

There are many fashion trends agencies in the world which predict potential trends and what they think will make waves. These agencies normally create concept boards to explain their forecasts. My favourite agency is Patternbank, which is a London-based Textile Print Design Studio and highly respected trend forecaster.

Today I focused on my favourite “Print and Pattern trend for Spring Summer 2018”: AFRICAN SUMMER which I’ve seen in many trends reports.

CURATOR OF BOHO, ETHNIC AND TRAVEL-INSPIRED TREASURES FOR HOME DECORATION.

Welcome to our colourful world, where exotic textiles from cultures around the globe mingle.

Design Junkie explores exquisite markets in remote villages, in search of unique pieces celebrating the originality of each ancestral technique. For us, each piece is artistically expressive, it’s a story.

Whether it’s Suzanis from Uzbekistan or India, baskets from Zimbabwe or Morocco, God’s eyes from Mexico, rugs from Peru, cushions from Turkey or fans from Ghana, we love the bold, the vivid and the energetic.

Our philosophy embraces the distinctive cultures of our beautiful world, as well as preserve their traditional methods which have been handed down from generation to generation.

We’re based in London, United Kingdom but open to the world through our website – please come and explore!